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President Nikolic and ambassadors of nine African countries donated humanitarian aid to Obrenovac and Kraljevo

OBRENOVAC - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and ambassadors of nine African countries visited Obrenovac and Kraljevo on Thursday and donated humanitarian aid to the population affected by the recent flooding.

Nikolic and the ambassadors of Algeria, Angola, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Congo and Guinea donated four water pumps and a power generator to the residents of the two cities most affected by the floods.

The aid was provided through the Dragica Nikolic foundation, using the funds originally intended for the organization of the Africa Day in Belgrade.

Nikolic thanked the ambassadors for the humane gesture, which he described as a symbol of the great friendship between Serbia and the countries of Africa.

This gesture is a symbol of the deep friendship between our countries and nations, which lasts for decades and will last for centuries to come, said Nikolic.

Algerian Ambassador Abdelkader Mesdoua said that the donation is a way for African countries to show their solidarity with the people of Serbia, and expressed the belief that the generators and the pumps will help the residents of Obrenovac and Kraljevo return to normal lives as soon as possible.
"We came to Obrenovac in May, we saw the damage, and we were impressed with the reaction of the authorities, especially of the president and the government of Serbia, but also of young people of whom you should be very proud. This is a small gesture of solidarity. We will also attend the donor conference on July 16, where the countries of Africa will once again show their solidarity with Serbia,” the Algerian ambassador said.

He thanked President Nikolic for his support to African countries.

In reply to the reporters' question as to when the humanitarian aid and the compensation for the damage caused by the floods will be distributed, noting that a number of citizens gathered in front of the Obrenovac municipality building, the Serbian president asked the citizens for more patience.

The government will certainly send someone to talk to them, said Nikolic, asking the citizens to show a little patience after the courage they demonstrated so far.
"It is a huge task that involves the entire state. Many cities and villages are affected. Some, of course, will not be satisfied, but protests will not achieve anything,” Nikolic said.